US20120021876A1

US20120021876A1 - Adjustable cable machine

Info

Publication number: US20120021876A1
Application number: US13/041,448
Authority: US
Inventors: Bob Hsiung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-23
Filing date: 2011-03-07
Publication date: 2012-01-26
Also published as: DE202011003739U1; DE102011013433A1; TW201204428A

Abstract

The adjustable cable machine contains a frame member raised on a base member having two ground bars. A seat member is configured in the front and a weight member capable of sliding vertically on the frame member. Two extension members are configured oppositely to the lateral sides of the frame member. Each extension member contains an adjustment element fixed to the frame member and an extension rod pivotally joined to the adjustment element. Each extension rod could be turned to adjust its angle relative to the frame member. A traction member composed of pulleys and cables is configured between the weight member and the extension members. A handle could be configured to an upper actuating ends at a top end of each extension rod or a lower actuating end in a front section of a ground bar.

Description

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to cable machines for weight and functional trainings, and more particular to an adjustable cable machine to fit the needs of various users.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A cable machine is used in weight training or functional training. It allows a user to pull a weight stack by the arms so as to exercise the arm muscle. A cable machine usually contains a frame, a seat member on the frame, a weight member on the frame, a traction member on the frame composed of pulleys and cables, and handles above the seat member connecting to the traction member's actuating ends. As such, a user could sit on the seat member and pull the handles downwards by the arms to overcome the resistance rendered from the weight member through the traction member. Taiwan Patent No. M364523 teaches a cable machine further providing left and right swing elements connected to the traction member for different exercising styles such as chest expansion.
Conventionally, the handles are hung from the frame above the seat member. To reserve space for the arms' up/down movement and to prevent the user's head from bumping to the handles when standing up, the frame has a substantial height. Together with the expanded lateral space required by the swing elements as in the prior art, the cable machine takes up a significantly sizable space, making it very difficult for transportation and placement. In addition, the cable machine usually has a complex structure, thereby leading to high product cost and difficult assembly. The cable machine as such is more common in professional gymnasiums, but is rare in households.
Further more, the conventional cable machine only offers limited exercising styles, failing to satisfy various users' needs. A user could easily get bored after a short while. Additionally, the positions of the handles and the swing elements, as well as their trajectories, are usually fixed. For a user with a posture not quite compatible with the design of the cable machine, the user could be easily injured.
In other words, the cable machine with its existing design, dimension, cost, and exercising styles, has a significant room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a novel cable machine is provided herein which takes up a limited space, requires fewer parts, and reduces production and transportation costs.
Another major objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable cable machine capable of offering additional exercising styles, satisfying the needs of various users, preventing the chances of injuries, and enhancing the exercising effects.
To achieve the above objectives, the present invention's handles are hung from extension rods that could be pivotally turned behind the seat member. As such, the handles could be raised high above the seat member or lowered low to the lateral sides of the seat member. The cable machine therefore offers versatile exercising styles, with a simplified structure and reduced dimension for easier and low-cost transportation and storage.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective break-down diagram showing the various components of a cable machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram showing the cable machine of FIG. 1 after its assembly.

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing the cable machine of FIG. 2 from a different viewing angle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective break-down diagram showing an extension member of the cable machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional diagram showing the extension member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front-view diagram showing the extension member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front-view diagram showing a first exercising style offered by the cable machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a schematic front-view diagram showing a second exercising style offered by the cable machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front-view diagram showing a third exercising style offered by the cable machine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a cable machine according to an embodiment of the present invention contains a base member 10, a frame member 15, a seat member 20, two extension members 30, a weight member 40, and a traction member 50.
The base member 10 is roughly shaped like an inversed “A” with two ground bars 11 roughly in parallel but spaced wider apart as they are extended towards a front direction of the cable machine to provide a solid ground support to the cable machine. A footboard 12 is placed between the ground bars 11's front sections. The frame member 15 is raised on a back portion of the base member 10 for the configuration of the traction member 50. The frame member 15 is roughly shaped like an inversed “V” with a front bar 16 for the configuration of the seat member 20 and the extension members 30, and a back bar 18 for the configuration of the weight member 40.
The seat member 20 contains a seat 21 and a backrest 25, both configured on the front bar 16. The seat 21 could be dynamically removed so as to make space for a user standing on the footboard 12 to operate the cable machine.
The extension members 30 are configured oppositely on the front bar 16's lateral sides, respectively. Each extension member 30 contains an adjustment element 31 and an extension rod 38. As shown in FIG. 4, each adjustment element 31 contains a static disc 32 fixed on the front bar 16 with a number of limiting holes 320 spaced around the static disc 32's circumference. A bottom end of each extension rod 38 is fixedly sandwiched between two rotating discs 33 of the adjustment element 31. Each extension rod 38 is as such pivotally positioned on the front bar 16 by pin-joining the static and rotating discs 32 and 33 together. Each extension rod 38's angle to the front bar 16 could be easily adjusted as follows. A through tube 330 is configured between the rotating discs 33 that could be aligned with a limiting hole 320. A front end 331 of the tube 330 and a bolt 34 have corresponding threads and grooves so that the bolt 34 could be screwed on the front end 331. The bolt 34 has a through channel so that a limiting rod 35 could be threaded through the tube 330 and the bolt 34 with its two ends exposed outside. An elastic element 350 is placed between the limiting rod 35 and the bolt 34 and a front end of the limiting rod 35 is joined to a knob 351. As such, when the limiting rod 35 is aligned with a limiting hole 320, the limiting rod 35 could be embedded into the limiting hole 320 by the elastic element 350. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, by pulling the knob 351, the limiting rod 35 could be removed from the confining limiting hole 320. The extension rod 38 then could be turned to a new position and the limiting rod 35 could be embedded into a limiting hole 320 there.
The weight member 40 contains a running element 41 capable of sliding up and down along the back bar 18 under the control of the traction member 50. Two horizontal pins 42 are extended from the running element 41's lateral sides, respectively. Various kinds of weights 45 could be placed on or removed from each pin 42 so as to conveniently fit a user's exercising requirement.
The traction member 50 contains a number of pulleys and cables running through the pulleys, and is configured between the weight member 40 and the extension members 30. At a top end of each extension rod 38, the traction member 50 provides an upper actuating end 51. Similarly, within a front section of each ground bar 11, the traction member 50 provides a lower actuating end 52. The upper and lower actuating ends 51 and 52 are connected to the weight member 40 through the cables and pulleys of the traction member. A handle 55 could be optionally connected to any of the upper and lower pulling ends 51 and 52 so that, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a user could grasp the handles 55 and perform various exercises and weight trainings.
As described, a versatile, small-dimensional cable machine is thereby achieved.
When the cable machine is put to use, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a user could sit on the seat member 20 and pulls the handles 55 to exercise the muscle of various body parts. As illustrated, the cable machine provides a number of exercising styles so that the user would not be bored from using the cable machine.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, depending on the user's build, the extension rods 38 of the extension members 30 could be turned to a desired angle. To alter the angles of the extension rods 38, as described earlier and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, by pulling the knob 351, the limiting rod 35 could be removed from a confining limiting hole 320. The extension rod 38 then could be turned to a new position around the static disc 32 and, by releasing the knob 351, the limiting rod 35 could be embedded into an aligned limiting hole 320 there. As such, the cable machine not only offers versatile exercising styles but also prevent the user from injury.
Further more, when the cable machine is required to be transported or stored, the extension rods 38 could be completely lowered and locked behind the seat member 20. The cable machine therefore has a limited height and takes up the least amount of space for easier transportation and storage. Additionally, the same extension members 30 provides up/down pulling exercise and lateral swing exercise as well, without the installation of additional parts. The cable machine therefore enjoys a simpler structure and lower cost than the prior arts.
More over, the pins 42 of the weight member 40 is structurally open so that a user could easily and conveniently add or remove different weights 45 to meet the user's exercising or training requirement.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cable machine, comprising:

a base member;

a frame member raised on a back portion of said base member, said frame member having a front bar and a back bar;

two extension members configured oppositely on said front bar's lateral sides, respectively, each extension member comprising an adjustment element fixed to said front bar and an adjustment rod pivotally joined to said adjustment element, each adjustment rod's angle to said front bar being adjustable;

a weight member comprising a running element along said back bar; and

a traction member comprising a plurality of pulleys and cables configured between said extension member and said weight member, wherein an upper actuating end of said traction member is provided at a top end of each extension rod; a handle is optionally configured on each upper actuating end; and said running element is capable of sliding vertically along said back bar under the control of a user pulling said handle through said traction member.

2. The cable machine according to claim 1, wherein said base member comprising two ground bars roughly in parallel but spaced wider apart towards a front direction; a footboard is placed between said ground bars' front sections; and a lower actuating end of said traction member is provided in said front section of each ground bar.

3. The cable machine according to claim 1, further comprising a seat member on said front bar; said seat member comprising a seat detachable from said front bar and a backrest.

4. The cable machine according to claim 1, wherein a static disc of said adjustment element is fixed on said front bar with a plurality of limiting holes spaced around said static disc's circumference; a bottom end of each extension rod is fixedly sandwiched between two rotating discs of said adjustment element; each extension rod is pivotally connected to said front bar by pin-joining said static and rotating discs together; a through tube is configured between said rotating discs; a front end of said tube and a bolt have corresponding threads and grooves so that said bolt is screwed on said front end; said bolt has a through channel so that a limiting rod is threaded through said tube and said bolt; an elastic element is placed between said limiting rod and said bolt; and a front end of said limiting rod is joined to a knob; when said limiting rod is aligned with a limiting hole, said limiting rod is embedded into said limiting hole by said elastic element; and, by pulling said knob, said limiting rod is removed from a confining limiting hole.

5. The cable machine according to claim 1, wherein two horizontal pins are extended from said running element's lateral sides, respectively, for loading and removing weights.